Spray booth and baffle moving means therefor



SPRAY BOOTH AND BAFFLE MOVING MEANS THEREFOR.

Filed Dec. 21, 1953 i w. R. BENJAMIN ET AL- Oct. 9, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheetl Ben William R, 6 George M.

Oct. 9, 1956 w. R. BENJAMIN ET AL 236 36 SPRAY BOOTH AND BAFFLE MOVINGMEANS THEREFOR Filed Dec. 21, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l I i l l l l I.zzi/eniov msx William 1?. .Bmy'am in j 'eovgye @Q, war/ 6? my, fimdvwmmOct. 9, 1956 w. R. BENJAMIN ETAL 2,765,869

SPRAY BOOTH AND BAFFLE MOVING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Dec. 21, 1953 4Sheets-Sheet 3 QQHQHQHQHGQ AHOQQHQHDU 0 ,QQQOQQUQ o QOQQUOQQMQUQQHQHQHQHOQ 8m ,UQHQUQU v nOnooom Qu nQhQHQHQUQU ,UQUQHQUQMQUznfionsjz'lizhm R egjamz'n' Get. 9, 1956 R. BENJAMIN ET AL 2,765,869

SPRAY BOOTH AND BAFFLE MOVING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Dec. 21 1953 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Q/zZZz'wm Beyzefamin Y2 @earya 6 g. (71 a SPRAY BOOTH ANDBAFFLE MOVING MEANS THEREFOR William R. Benjamin, Glenside, Pa., andGeorge A.

Harker, Chicago, Ill., assignors to Rinks Manufacturing Company,Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application December 21, 1953,Serial No. 399,262

4 Claims. (Cl. 1823-76) This invention relates to improvements in aspray booth of the general type used for the spraying of coatingmaterials, and refers particularly to a movable curtain structurewhereby the stray or fugitive spray particles are removed from theatmosphere surrounding the spraying operation.

In the spraying of articles, spray booths are usually provided withinwhich the spraying operation is performed. To remove the stray orfugitive spray particles from the booth a current of air is inducedthrough the booth, and to remove the spray particles from the inducedair stream so that said stream may be conveniently discharged to theatmosphere, baffles or the like are employed which are disposed in thepath of travel of the spray-laden 'air whereby the stray or fugitiveparticles are picked up or attach themselves to the bafiies from whichthey may be reclaimed or removed.

The present invention is particularly directed to a baffle or curtainconstruction for picking up or catching the spray particles in a streamof air induced through a spray booth, the baffle or curtain constructionbeing such that the operation of catching or picking up the stray orfugitive spray particles from the induced air stream and the removal orreclamation of the particles from the baffles or curtains is carried outin a most efficient and convenient manner.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the accompanying drawings and following detailed description.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side sectional view of the spray booth embodied in thepresent invention taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the improved spray booth.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig.3.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are sectional views through the movable baffles orcurtains showing different phases of operation of the device.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 1 indicates generally a spray boothfor the spraying of ceramic materials or the like, said booth comprisinga top 2, a bottom 3, side walls 4 and and an end wall 6. The booth isdivided into three sections, a spraying section 7, a baffling section 8and a discharge section 9. The spraying section is open at one end topermit the passage of air which is drawn through all of the sections byfan 10. A duct 11 is positioned upon the discharge section of the booth,an electric motor 12 remotely positioned from the duct being connectedto fan 16 by belt 12 to operate the fan to draw or induce air throughsections 7, 8 and 9.

The actual spraying of the coating material takes place in the section 7and, hence, the atmosphere in said section carries large quantities ofstray or fugitive spray particles. Section 7 is divided from section 8by a plu- Fatented Oct. 9, 1956 rality of baffles 13 which are providedwith staggered apertures 14 whereby the air, carrying the stray andfugitive spray particles, is drawn from section 7 through the baffles13.

The illustrated spray booth is particularly adaptable for sprayingceramic material which is subsequently fused upon the article beingsprayed, as by firing or the like. Such ceramic spraying materials arerelatively expensive and, hence, it is desirable to reclaim as much ofsaid material in the dry state as possible. This reclamation isperformed by the baffles 13 which intercept the major portion of thestray or fugitive particles carried by the passing air whereby it may bereclaimed.

The air, carrying that portion of the stray or fugitive particles notcaptured by the bafiles 13, enters section 8. However, the air movingthrough section 8 although it carries only a minor portion of the strayor fugitive particles, cannot be discharged directly to the atmosphere,since, if ceramic materials are employed, the particles are highlyabrasive and otherwise highly objectionable. Hence, it has been thepractice to move the spray-laden particles through additional baffleswherein the stray particles are substantially entirely removed from theair before it is discharged to the atmosphere. The present invention isparticularly directed to a bafile arrangement suitable for this abovedescribed purpose.

Spaced from the baffies 13 in section 8, the side walls 4 and 5 carry aplurality of adjacent guides 15 which comprise channels which arevertically disposed and adjacent each other, there being a correspondingnumber of oppositely spaced guides on the opposite walls 4 and 5. Eachpair of opposite channels or guides 15 is adapted to receive a bafiieframe 16 which slides vertically in said guides in a manner and for apurpose to be hereinafter more fully described.

Adjacent the lower portion of the discharge section 9 is a vat or tank17 having a vertical wall 18 which defines a portion of the bafllesection 8. The vat or tank 17 carries a body of liquid 19 which may bewater or a solvent for the material being sprayed in section 8. Thus,when the baffle frames 16 are in their uppermost position in guides 15said frames comprise a division wall between the upper portions ofsections 8 and 9.

The baffie frames 16 each comprise a rectangular panel 20 which isbordered on its four sides by oppositely extending angle-irons 21. Thepanels 20 are each perforated, being provided with a plurality ofapertures 22 whereby the air withdrawn from section 8 by fan 10 may moveto section 9 when the frames are in their uppermost position. As will behereinafter more fully described, all of the bafiie frames but one willalways be in upper position. Hence, during the spraying operation, thesprayladen air drawn through the apertures 22 will be caused to traversea tortuous path through the frames 16 in moving to section 9 since thepanels 20 are so formed that when in their uppermost position theapertures 22 of at least two panels are staggered with respect to eachother. In thus moving, fugitive spray particles carried by the movingair impinge upon and adhere to the panels. In this fashion the stray orfugitive spray particles are removed from the air before the air isdischarged through conduit 11.

Of course, as the spraying operation continues,,the panels 20 becomemore or less laden with the captured spray and become relatively dryand, hence, means is con templated for removing said captured spray fromthe panels and again wetting the panels. The means contemplated forcleansing and Wetting the panels constitutes a most important aspect ofthe present invention and is described in detail, as follows.

A supporting platform 23 is positioned above'the top wall 2 and carriesa plurality of fluid pressure cylinders 24. The cylinders 24 aredisposed parallel to each other and correspond in number to the numberof frames 16. A piston rod 25 is reciprocally positioned in eachcylinder 24 and at the extending end of each rod a cable 26 is secured.An aperture 27 is provided in the platform 23 and immediately below saidaperture a corresponding aperture 28 is provided in the top 2. Theapertures 27 and 28 are positioned in vertical alignment with the frames16 carried in the guides 15.

I A plurality of sheaves 29 are carried by brackets 39 above theapertures 27 and 28, the sheaves corresponding in number with the numberof cylinders 24 and frames 16 and respectively corresponding in positionwith each frame 16. Each cable 26 passes over a corresponding sheave andis secured to the upper portion of a respective frame 16. Thus, by theproper manipulation of the piston rods 25 a desired frame or frames maybe raised or lowered in guides 15.

For purposes of example, four frames 16 are shown and described, butmore or fewer frames may be employed, as desired. When four frames areemployed, four corresponding cylinders 24 are contemplated, one for eachframe. In operation, it is desired that the cleansing of the frames beso carried out as to not Y interrupt the spraying operation and, hence,it is contemplated that a maximum number of frames be in uppermostposition at a given time. Accordingly, the present inventioncontemplates the cleansing of one frame at a time.

The fluid pressure cylinders 24 may be operated 'by a gaseous fluid orliquid, but in either case, means is contemplated for selectivelymanipulating the piston rods 25. For purpose of illustration, anarrangement such as that shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2 may beemployed, although it is to be understood that other suitable selectivemechanisms are contemplated.

The arrangement illustrated in Fig. 2 comprises a pair of rotary valves31 and 32 which are respectively connected 'to the opposite ends of eachcylinder 24 by pipes 33 and 34. An electric motor 35, connected to aconventional speed reducer 36 drives shafts 37 and 33 which respectivelymanipulate the rotary valves 31 and 32. The valves 31 and 32 may each beconnected to a source of fluid under pressure by pipes 39.

The arrangement is such that as the valves 31-and 32 are driven, thepistons 25 will be manipulated in sequence to lower and raise the frames16. The guides 15 extend downwardlyinto the tank or vat 17 and, hence,when a frame is lowered from its uppermost position the frame isimmersed in the bath 19 whereby the fugitive spray captured by the frameis removed therefrom and may, in some :instances, be reclaimed for use,but at all events is cleansed and in condition to receive or captureadditional sprayafter it is moved to upraised position.

iReferring particularly to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the sequential movement ordisplacement of three of the frames is illustrated. In Fig. frames 16a,16b and 1651 are in their uppermost positions, that 'is, in position tocatch spray from the air passing from section "8 to section 9.

Thecylinders 24 associated :with the upraised frames will beconnected tofluid under pressure through three of the pipes. The fluid underpressure in the remaining pipe 54 may be relieved and fluid underpressure may be introduced into the pipe 33 corresponding to saidcylinder. Hence, the frame 16c will be immersed in the cleansing bath'19. Of course, when the vfluid under pressure is relievedin the pipe 34corresponding to the lowered frame it may not be necessary to introducefluid under pressure through the corresponding-pipe33 since theweight'of the frame 16c may be sufiicientto move-the piston rodoutwardly. If such is the case the valve -31 and pipes 33-may beeliminated since wit'would only be necessary to positively raise theframes, gravity being employed toJowenthem.

In Fig. 6 frame 16c has been raised and frame 16b has been lowered intothe cleansing bath, whereas at another phase of operation (Fig. 7) frame16b has been raised and frame 16a has been lowered. A succeeding phasewould find frame lowered and frame 16a raised, and

so on.

Of course, the dwell of each frame in the bath 19 may be controlied tosuit specific conditions as to the character of the sprayed material,the nature of the liquid 19 and the density of the stray or fugitivespray in section 8.-

in addition, if desired, one or more frames may be lowered into the bathat the same time or there need be no appreciable period of dwell of theframes in the bath; that is, one or more of the frames may becontinuously moving into and out of the bath. Of course, where aplurality of frames are employed it is preferable to have the majorityof them in upraised, operative position at any predetermined time sothat the fugitive spray may be eifectively removed from the passing air.

We claim as our invention:

1. In combination with a spray booth wherein articles are sprayed with acoating material and air is passed through said booth to continuouslyremove the atmosphere from the vicinity of the spraying operation, of atleast three baffles disposed in plane-parallel face-to-face verticalrelationship in said spray booth in the path of travel of air removedfrom the vicinity of said spraying operation whereby fugitive sprayparticles in said air are caught by said battles, a vat for a cleansingliquid positioned beneath said baffles and separate means for movingeach of said baffles one at a time vertically in a direction parallel totheir respective planes into and out of the liquid in the vat to removefrom said baifles spray particles caught by said batfies.

2. In combination with a spray booth wherein articles are sprayed with acoating material and air is passed through said booth to continuouslyremove the atmosphere from the vicinity of the spraying operation, of aplurality of baflles disposed in plane-parallel relationship to eachother and disposed with their planes at rightangles to the path of the.air moved from the vicinity ,of the spraying operation whereby fugitivespray particles in said air-are caught by said vbafiies, a vat for acleansing liquid positioned beneath said battles, and means forsequentially moving said bafiles into and out of the liquid in the vatwhile maintaining the remaining baiiles stationary to remove from saidbafiies the spray particles caught by said bafiles, said meanscomprising a plu rality of cables respectively suspending said battles,and means for selectively drawing and releasing one of said cables at atime to raise and lower a selected battle.

3. in combinationwitha spray booth wherein articles are sprayed with .acoating material and air is passed through said booth to continuouslyremove the atmosphere from :the vicinity of the spraying operation, of aplurality of baflies disposed in spaced plane-parallel relationship toeach other and disposed in .the path of the air moved from the vicinityof the spraying operation whereby fugitive spray particles in said airare caught by said bafllesa vat for a -.cleansing liquid positionedbeneath said baflles, means for sequentially ,moving said baflles one;at ;a. time into and out of the liquid in -the vat while maintainingthe remaining baffles stationary to remove from said baflles :the sprayparticles caught by said baffles, said means comprising .a plurality ofcables respectively s spfiudiussaid battles, fluid pressure cylinder andpiston means connected to-each of .said cables, and means forselectively actuating said fluid pressure cylinder and piston meansselectivelyto raise and lower abaflle relative to said vat whilemaintaining the remaining baflles stationary in.,the path of travel ofsaid air.

.4. A spray :booth within which articles are sprayed withacoating-rnaterial comprising a housinghaving side walls and atop, meanscarried by said'hou sing fprpgssingzai-r in a'substantially horizontaldirection through said spray booth in which fugitive spray particlesfrom the spraying operation are carried, a plurality of pairs ofvertical guides carried by the side Walls of the housing on the lowerpressure side of the vicinity of the spraying operation, bafllesslidably carried in said guides for plane- 5 parallel vertical movementtherein and for movement into the path of travel of said air from thevicinity of the spraying operation, a vat positioned in said spray boothbe neath said bafiles for holding a cleansing liquid, and separate meansfor selectively moving less than all of said 10 baflles into and out ofsaid vat to cleanse said bafiles.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,816,836 Gagen Aug. 4, 1931 15 6 Gagen Sept. 1, 1931 Strindberg Feb.16, 1937 Richards Feb. 18, 1941 Roche Sept. 30, 1941 Ransburg et a1.Nov. 1, 1949 Meyer Jan. 22, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Austria Mar. 10, 1931

